News

Extreme weed control

TAMS are getting it out there just how far they’ll go to nasty with the prickly pears in the Molonglo Gorge:

Abseiling, normally a recreational activity, was today employed for a different purpose. A team of specialised contractors abseiled down the Molonglo Gorge in the fight against one of the region’s highly invasive weeds, Prickly Pear, Steve Taylor, Senior Weed Management Officer, ACT Parks and Conservation, announced today.

“From the edge of the railway that runs along the southern end of the gorge, the specialised team of two from Wild Rivers descended, spot spraying the Prickly Pear (Opuntia stricta) as they went,” Mr Taylor said.

“Equipped with a 15 litre knapsack of herbicide and strong protective gloves due to the spiky thorns the weed bears – a characteristic associated with its family of species, the Cactaceae – the team took to the gorge to combat the Prickly Pear which is listed as a weed of national significance in the ACT.

“The team have been conducting spraying operations over the last three days, tackling problem areas and working from the top of the cliff face making their way to the bottom. Today they completed the spraying.

What’s Your opinion?

Oh good. And doubtless as they drove to and from Molonglo Gorge, they admired the lush growths of St Johns Wort and Serrated Tussock in the paddocks both sides of Pialligo Avenue. And as you go into Molonglo Gorge.

ACT Government’s weed management is so bad, it’s farcical. I wonder if they’ve got to the Caltrop in Telopea Park yet? That stuff punctures tyres and goes through shoe-soles.